President Barack Obama cited gloomy jobs numbers as one more reason lawmakers must strike a deal soon to raise the debt limit, saying the impasse was fueling uncertainty within financial markets and in the business sector.

Obama said companies have been more reluctant to invest and hire because of several factors, including the debt ceiling impasse and turmoil in the global economy triggered by the crisis in Greece.

"The problems in Greece and in Europe along with uncertainty over whether the debt limit here in the United States will be raised have also made businesses hesitant to invest more aggressively," he said in an appearance in the Rose Garden. ...

He promised to "roll up" his sleeves to work with lawmakers on an agreement to raise the debt limit and reduce deficits.

"The sooner we get this done, the sooner that the markets know that the debt limit ceiling will have been raised," Obama said.

The "uncertainty" argument is a Republican talking point. As is the deficit.

Why should he bother? He's easily as tone-deaf as Bush was. And since his idea of "negotiating" is give Republicans everything they ask for PLUS things things hadn't asked for, there's no reason for him to change.

Obama will be a one-term president. America gave him 60 votes in the Senate and historic majorities in the House, and he couldn't manage to actually do anything with it besides compromising away everything. It's been down hill from there, and he's spent most of that time complaining about "the professional left" being too extreme for asking for picky little things like an effective jobs program or a return to human rights standards.

Actually you're both right.The GOP blocked everything meaningful but Obama also did not use his position to actually fight. Additionally he started 'negotiations' always slightly to the right of what would have been an acceptable solution and then over-compromised (himself too).